Scale in the UAE
Secure pilot projects with Aldar and Majid Al-Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail, and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.
Build the Metaverse
with Scale Up by Aldar
How can you help us leverage web3 technology to enhance the way people experience real-estate?
The world is going through change at an accelerated pace, and NFTs are suddenly at the heart of it all. But the average person doesn’t know what Fungible even means, let alone how to mint.
Let’s rewind and break it down slowly, the old way.
Innovation and digital transformation are key strategic themes at Aldar, a leading real estate group in Abu Dhabi (UAE) with a total asset value of $10 billion. And the potential for us to leverage this clout to unlock new customer experiences is limitless.
That is where Aldar Scale Up comes in; as a driving force to further innovation.
Developed in partnership with startAD, the Abu Dhabi-based global startup accelerator, powered by Tamkeen and anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi, this second edition of Scale Up is taking bets on web3 innovation, with a view that anything is possible in the metaverse, as long as it improves lives and humanity.
Through a 4-week equity-free accelerator, we promise to provide global tech startups with a gateway to real opportunities, guidance and networks for succeeding in the UAE, perhaps the most forward-focused market in the world today.
This will be achieved through pilot projects with Aldar, and other market leaders in the region, for successful startups that get successfully accepted into the program.
With The 1st edition of Aldar Scale Up, we saw 9 startups participating from 8 countries, offering solutions that leveraged the Internet of Things, smart sensors, communications, and analytics.
And 3 of these startups secured paid pilots with Aldar. After the resounding success of the first, through the ambit of Scale Up, Aldar is seeking ambitious Web3 founders for its second edition.
In recognition of the accelerated shift towards Web3, the second edition of Scale Up will become one of the UAE’s first programmes to attract international startups with technologies that have the potential to shape the open metaverse.
I have questions
Applications are now closed. Stay tuned for updates on our social media channels.
Strategic Partner
Majid Al Futtaim
What is Web3
To build something beautiful, we first need to understand what it is we are building towards.
To quote Chris Dixon’s tweet,
“web1: read, web2: read / write, web3: read / write / own”
In its broadest sense, Web3 refers to a version of the internet where we've gotten rid of the middlemen and replaced them with applications governed by users.
The middlemen here are usually characterised as Big Tech companies. And the applications replacing them as being governed by users via the ownership of specific crypto tokens, operated using blockchains.
Definition courtesy Jaspreet Singh, the-ken.com
Cutting Edge Web3 Technology
If you are building the Metaverse and winning with web3, you should apply.
Tokenization, NFTs, DAOs, Fungible, Smart Contracts, Layering, Polygon, Matic, Fractional Ownerships, and more!
Focus Areas
Question: How do you use the latest thinking and techniques with web3 to address everyday real-estate focused challenges, traditionally tackled with web1 and web2?
Using these focus areas:
Blockchain Solutions
Startups who revolutionize asset management via blockchain solutions through tokenizing assets, supporting fractional ownership, tokenized loyalty programs, NFTs, metaverse, smart contracts, and data management.
Data Analytics
Startups who provide clients with the ability to extract, clean and analyze existing data. Helping uncover actionable real estate market trends, insights and predictions.
Customer Experience
Startups who focus on reimagining the customer experience and retail journey post-pandemic. Creating an engaging and much more personalized experience.
Examples of such challenges:
01.
Ownership Authenticity
02.
Asset Tokenization and Mirroring in a Metaverse
03.
Crowdsourcing asset ownership
04.
Decision making matrix for asset management (with a DAO, for example).
Why apply
Increase opportunities in UAE
Get subsidized access to housing at Aldar’s Cloud Living spaces during the pilot execution phase and receive support from Aldar for securing UAE Golden Visas
Become a startAD alumni
Get inducted into startAD, the Abu-Dhabi based global startup accelerator anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi & receive alumni benefits such as software discounts, talent and network access.
Who Should Apply?
01
Tech startups with solutions that can address the focus areas highlighted above.02
Startups with a demonstrated track record of piloting with corporates of a similar size/nature of Aldar.03
Startups that have proven ability to scale such as having raised series A or B rounds of funding, and with suitable team size (6+).04
Startups that are generating revenue and have healthy financial projections.05
Startups that have ambitions to create a base of operations in the UAE (if not based in the UAE already).06
Startups that are working closely with the metaverse to define the future of human experience and interaction with cross-industry applications.
The Startup’s Journey
Apply: Nov 24, 2021 - Feb 5, 2022
Complete and submit the application form before the deadline.
Interview: On a rolling basis
You will be invited for a virtual interview if your application is found to be a good fit for the program.
Final Cohort selection: February 10, 2022
After the interview assessments, you will be invited to attend the program if your startup is one of the 10 to be accepted into the program.
Sprint Accelerator: March 6 - March 30, 2022
You will go through a 4-week virtual training program, and build and receive feedback on your pilot proposal.
Pitch Day: March 30, 2022
You will present your proposal to a panel of Aldar and Majid Al-Futtaim business leaders
Pilot shortlist announcement: April 14, 2022
You will be selected to move to the next stage if your startup is one of the top proposals.
Advanced pilot discussions: April 15 - May 31, 2022
You will have onboarding discussions with Aldar and Majid Al Futtaim business units for the pilot projects.
Post-program pilot coaching: 2 weeks
If you are selected for a pilot with Aldar or Majid Al Futtaim, you will be provided with post-program coaching and support to help you launch it.
Scale Up 1 Winners
Metrikus
UK-based startup offering property software solutions through an innovative digital platform, with focus on operational efficiencies, estate optimisation and indoor air quality.
Learn More
Envio systems
German startup that offers innovative IoT products that allow buildings to operate a fully integrated ecosystem that connects, collects, analyses, and optimizes data, autonomously or manually from web-enabled devices.
Learn More
GBuilder
Company based in Finland that developed a platform that enables digital communication between the customer, project team, and construction site.
Learn MoreScale Up in the media
Aldar Properties to tap into Europe’s PropTech network
Aldar’s investment into Fifth Wall’s European Real Estate Technology Fund makes it the first limited partner from the MENA region to invest in the fund
Read MoreInfrastructure is set to “lead economic recovery” if digitised
Aldar Properties outlines how it has made a conscious switch towards digital and virtual experiences, unlocking a “competitive edge”
Read MoreAldar picks first start-ups to develop the UAE’s PropTech ambitions
Abu Dhabi developer picks German, Finnish and British firms to participate in Aldar Scale Up accelerator programme
Read MoreAbu Dhabi's Aldar chooses three PropTech start-ups for its accelerator programme
Companies chosen for first iteration of Scale Up are Germany's Envio, Finland's GBuilder and the UK's Metrikus
Read MoreWorking with startups “paramount” to stay ahead of the curve: Aldar
Properties recently selected three PropTech startups for its Aldar Scale Up programme, in partnership with startAD
Read MoreAre you ready to Scale Up?
Contact Us
For any enquiries, please email us.
